Hello, my name’s Mardi Lee and welcome to The ReNewy Living Podcast – Season 1!
The ReNewy Living Podcast celebrates local sustainability by sharing the stories of people, place and projects from regional communities across Australia. Hosted by Mardi Lee from ReNewy Living and based in Newcastle NSW, the podcast takes a ‘start-where-you-live’ approach. The stories offer an inspiring glimpse into how local solutions can build healthier, more connected, and resilient communities.
Each episode encourages critical thinking, inspires you to take action and connects you with like-minded communities so that you can thrive locally.
This podcast is for everyone choosing to live more sustainably, wherever you are from around the world! Join me as we learn together on The ReNewy Living Podcast!
Listen to The ReNewy Living Podcast
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The ReNewy Living Podcast: Season 1
Catch up on Season 2 here… and Season 3 here…
Stories in Season 1 are from the people in the communities of Lake Macquarie and Newcastle NSW. These episodes explore local sustainability through topics like community gardens, repair cafe initiatives, library of things, natural soap making, circular economy, tiny forests, sustainable beauty, and op shopping.
Thanks to Awesome Newcastle for their seed funding financial contribution and immense confidence to bring elements of Season 1 for your listening pleasure.
1. A Local Tiny Forest with Big Benefits
Anna Noon of the Groundswell Collective is instrumental in establishing Lake Macquarie’s first tiny forest. With her team, she aims to bring people together to create a better planet, and shares her expertise & insights on tiny forests.
Listen to 1. A Local Tiny Forest with Big Benefits on Apple Podcasts and Spotify or your wherever you get your podcasts
2. Behind the Op Shop Donation Door
Hear from Lifeline retail employees, Dalys Harper and David Ison as they talk frankly about what happens behind the scenes of operating an op shop. Find out the benefits, challenges and surprises of op shops.
Listen to 2. Behind the Op Shop Donation Door on Apple Podcasts and Spotify or your wherever you get your podcasts
3. The Library of Things: Reducing Waste Through Sharing
Hear from volunteer Lanah Maruff of The Share Shop, to understand what a Library of Things is and how it builds a positive community, reduces waste and saves you money.
Listen to 3. The Library of Things: Reducing Waste Through Sharing on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Podcasts or your wherever you get your podcasts.
4. How Smokva Community Garden Cultivates Connection & Growth
We’re joined by Adrian Garner from Smokva Community Garden in Wickham. Adrian shares his local knowledge and experience on how community gardens are more than just a space for plants.
Listen to 4. How Smokva Community Garden Cultivates Community & Growth on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Podcasts or your wherever you get your podcasts
5. What Makes a Beauty Salon Sustainable?
We’re joined by Emma Summerhayes from Newcastle sustainable beauty salon, Slow Skin Co. She talks of how values, ethics and decisions guide a sustainable service to clients.
Listen to 5. What Makes a Beauty Salon Sustainable? on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Podcasts or your wherever you get your podcasts.
6. Circular Economy from a Localised Perspective
We’re joined by Thomas Michel and Bianca Bartlett from Newcastle NSW circular economy start up The Full Circle Collective. Hear about what the circular economy really mean and how there are excellent examples of circular economy initiatives in the region.
Listen to 6. Circular Economy from a Localised Perspective on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Podcasts or your wherever you get your podcasts.
7. Natural Soap Making Inspired by Nature
Have you ever thought about how your soap is made? Soap making has been around for thousands of years, but the rise of industrialisation, globalisation, and cluey marketing means we’ve lost that connection with real soap ingredients and soap making.
Listen to 7. Natural Soap Making Inspired by Nature on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Podcasts or your wherever you get your podcasts.
8. Repair Cafes Help to Fix, Mend & Connect
Repair cafes are dedicated to helping you extend the life of your belongings. Thanks to local volunteers, Sam Doove and Gabrielle Clappison, places like the Lake Mac Repair Cafe ensure your items get a second chance, lasting for many more days and years to come.
Listen to 8. Repair Cafes Help to Fix, Mend & Connect on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Podcasts or your wherever you get your podcasts.
Listen to the Latest Episodes
You’ll find us on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify podcasts, YouTube – or wherever you love listening to podcasts!
Blogposts from The ReNewy Living Podcast…
Flipping the Concept of Supermarket Shopping
This article is a summary only of the podcast conversation “15. Flipping the Concept of [...]
13
Feb
Feb
Connecting Community Through Good, Clean & Fair Food
This article is a summary of the podcast conversation “24. Connecting Community Through Good, Clean [...]
17
Jul
Jul
What’s Threatening Lake Macquarie’s Green Sea Turtles?
This article is a summary of the podcast conversation “22. What’s Threatening Lake Macquarie’s Green [...]
18
Jun
Jun
A Sustainable Clothing Journey: From Farm to Fibre
This article is a summary only of the podcast conversation “10. A Sustainable Clothing Journey: [...]
27
Dec
Dec
How Smokva Community Garden Cultivates Connection & Growth
This article is a summary only of the podcast conversation “Ep 4: How Smokva Community [...]
30
Sep
Sep
Why Fair Trade Matters
This article is a summary only of the podcast conversation “Why Fair Trade Matters”. Listen [...]
27
Jan
Jan
Behind the Op Shop Donation Door
This article is a summary only of the podcast conversation “Ep 2: Behind the Op [...]
17
Sep
Sep
What Makes Natural Deodorant Great?
This article is a summary only of the podcast conversation “14. What Makes Natural Deodorant [...]
04
Feb
Feb
Hear Mardi from ReNewy Living as a Podcast Guest…
The Yellow Shelf Podcast
The ReNewy Living Podcast, host Mardi Lee
A quick 7 minute conversation with host Johanna Fink about The ReNewy Living Podcast
Available on Apple Podcasts, and Spotify podcasts
March 2025
Practical Permaculture
Episode 70 Values Aligned Sustainability | Mindful Consumption
Sharing my journey into sustainability, exploring the importance of community empowerment, creative workshops and the principles of permaculture in daily life and dive into the beauty of gifting preloved items.
Available on Apple Podcasts, and Spotify podcasts
November 2024
Pod like a Pro
How to Find your own Style and Voice in Podcasting
How I got over the overwhelm for starting a podcast and find my own style and voice just by launching the pod.
Available on Apple Podcasts, and Spotify podcasts
September 2024
Creativity: Uncovered with Abi Gatling
What does Sustainability have to do with Creativity?
Topics include op shopping, being resourceful, the concept of play for creativity and why and how we should embed creativity into our everyday.
Available on Apple Podcasts, and Spotify
June 2023
Living Smart Podcast
Getting Creative with Rubbish
How resourceful we can be with seeing waste and marine debris as a resource and stepping stone to tap into our creativity.
Available on Apple Podcasts, and Spotify
September 2021
Be a Guest on The ReNewy Living Podcast…
Mardi from ReNewy Living (left) with Sally Maguire (right) from Shepherd’s Ground Community Farm and Village. In conversation on Season 2 of The ReNewy Living Podcast.
ReNewy Living is always keen to chat with guests from the regions who are doing good things for people and planet.
We’d love to start with a phone chat if you’re:-
- an individual who’s knowledgable about one or more areas of sustainability
- a business or organisation who’s either 100% sustainability-focussed or has a strong environmental mission/ project, or social justice aim. All whilst keeping sustainability as the core theme.
- based in a regional or rural community. I’m beginning with Newcastle NSW – my hometown – but I’m also keen to connect with others across regional and rural NSW and Australia.
If you have a topic idea or unsure whether it’s possible to be a guest, I encourage you to reach out via email – info@renewyliving,com.au – or via the Contact page…
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